Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi folks,

here are four wonderful clips I shot with my friend Wulfin playing. We actually spent more than 4 weeks in southern Spain to find out more about the man who defined the acoustic guitar we know today. Antonio de Torres was the Stradivari or Leo Fender of acoustic guitars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9cRtzwf8f4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDEas0-fx_s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CssfP8Zdjv8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SXb-HZQtGM

I would like to invite you to take some time to listen to the acoustic properties of this wonderful guitar. The Leona (means "lioness") has an extremely dark and throaty voice. Almost like the deep and sensual voice of a seductive lady in her best years. I know it might seem inappropriate, but it reminded me in a certain way to some of the best pre-war Martins I have played in my life. The soundboard is paper (!!!) thin but still has the stiffness to create this beautiful sound. The guitar is light as a feather.

When todays owner Dr. E. H. found the guitar it was in an unplayable condition. The purchase almost seemed like a part from a James Bond movie. He had to fly to Spain with a briefcase full of cash money, drive dirt roads to a strange part of town to negotiate and beat another prospective buyer. I will share this story at another time.
The soundboard had lost the integrity. The process of reviving this guitar reminded me to a bizarre voodoo-act. It involved etheric cypress oil, nylon threads to hang the guitar and de-stress the top etc
I have footage about this in my archive. A perfect project for a dark cold winter night.


Please enjoy,
Have a wonderful week,
Holger

Hi Holger,

Thank you for the wonderful videos. Very enjoyable. Please keep posting as you come out with more.

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

What a wonderful way to spend a month on Spain!!!

I will never be able to play like he does, but if I ever succeed in building a guitar like La Leona, well, then I will have achieved something.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/